Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-30
1T a5hlnotpn Standard
THEIioUsEoNT THE MARSH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
nY FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
IA soon rs we came out of church
that morning, | found an opportunity
of speaking to Mrs. Manners. and
asked her. shyly, if she could give me
any message to take that afternoon to
Miss Maud Read at the Hall.
Laurence told me to ask you."
whispered, timidly; lit is because he
particularly wants my next letter to be
Enclosed in hers. He didn't say why;
but he is very emphatic about il"
Dear. dear" said kindly Mrs. Man.
ncrs. anxiouSly, lit is pity young
people can not get on without so many
subtcrfuges! / don't know whether
Mr.. Manners would approve. But
thcrc-1 promised Laurence would
help you-and there is no harm in it
and so will. Come up to the Vicar
age after afternoon service, and I'll
give you a packet of tracts for her."
thanked her and made my way to
where Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner were stand
ing in time to hear the former advise
old Mr.. Rcade 10 send his plate. which
was known to be valuable. to the bank
for safety.
"They wouldn't try for my little
store, it wouldn' t be worth their while, :"
said Mr.. Readc. at must take its
chances in the old chest at home"
At dinner Mr.. Rayner tried again to
induce his wife to go to Monaco. and
encouraged me to join my persuasions
to his, which l did most heartily. But
to all we said she only replied steadily
and coldly that she dislikcd travelling,
did not feel well enough to undertake
q journey. and preferred remaining at
the Alders. She added. in the same
parrot-like tone. that she thought the
change would do me and Haidee good,
and that it was very kind of my mother
to 60.
After dinner l ran upstairs to my
room, and sat down to write my Scarce
ly-begun letter to Laurence.
l first told him how happy his letter
had made ME, and then, Obeying his
injunction to tell him every thing that
happened at. the Alders. gave him a
full account of the way Sarah had pre-
vented our meeting on Wednesday eve
ming, and of her stealing my letter out
of the bag on Thursday, of Mr.. Car
ruthcr's visit to tell me of tho robbery
Mt Denham Court, of the accident TO
Sarah on Friday night, of her rawlings
about bad man named James Wood
fall, of Mr.. Rayner's return. and of his
intention to take Haidcc. my mother,
and me to Monaco in few days.
The hope Of seeing Laurence again
toG h~v
every other thought concerning the
journey; and l was eager for Friday to
come. that we might start.
Then l told him that had some very
grave suspicious about the robbery,
that l had told them to Mr.. Rayner.
who did not think so seriously of them
as did. but that he said ought not to
repeat them to any body until he had
thoroughly sifted the matter, and I had
promised not to do so.
$50 now you arc not to bc anxious about
my safety any more, my dearest laurence
For Sarah. the only person who wished me
, narm. Is 100 Ill to move and is IN danger:
least her reason. tho doctor says. And Mr..
HAyner has promised not to 20 away again
Tor more than day at q time, either on bust
fatality about his absences, for both these
dreadful rObberies that have frightened
every body SO much lately. the ono at Lord
have happened while he was away, with no
man IN the house to protect us against
burglars Or our fears Of them. think your
pre1udice against MT RGyner ought to break
each other SO soon: for when We are at
Monaco you VIII como over and see US. won't
your NY mother Is very anxious to make
your acquaintance. though she docs not
know OF our engagement for dare not tell
her any secrets. | think Mr.. Rayner must
have guessed It though. for he says little
you eco no does not try to prejudice me
against you, as you thought he would. But
he might try: and every body else in the world
would never succeed in changing the heart
OF your own ever loving "VlOLET,"
1 had said at dinner that day, in
answer to Mr.. Kayner's inquiries, that
l was not going to afternoon service,
but l had not mentioned that was
going to the Vicarage. felt sure that
/ should blush if I did, and then Mr..
Rayner would guess my visit had some
thing to do with Laurence, and did
not want to be leased any more. So,
when five o'clock came put on my
outdoor things and slipped softly down.
stairs and out by the school-room
window. was not afraid of leaving
that unfastcncd, now that Mr.. Rayner
had come back again.
Mrs. Manners met me In the han Of
the Vicarage. took me into the draw
ing-room, and gave me q packet of
tracts. These was to deliver to Miss
Maud Reade for distribution in her dis
trict this week.
l went through the side gate of the
vicarage garden and across the park to
the hall, where l rang the bell and
asked for Miss Maud Reade. l had to
wait only few minutes when the door
opened and she came in.
She was q girl of about sixteen, with
a weak but not disagreeable face; and
she shook hands with me rather timid-
~. but not unkindly.
Mrs. Manners asked me 10 bring
you these tracts for your district, Miss
Rcadc. She has marked some for peo-
pie she thinks them specially suitable
for" said l, giving her the packet.
Thank you; it is very kind of you
to take SO much trouble" said she.
''Oh. it is no trouble at all!" I an
swcrcd.
There was a pause Of rather awk-
ward restraint, and then I said in o
whisper:
''Laurenee-your brotherhood me
70 come and see you. and to ask you to
put IA letter from me to him inside
yours. He said was to tell you to re-
member your promise, and he would
remember his; he underlined that"
Miss Rcade's c0nstraint broke up Mt
once, and she grew as much excited
and rs mysterious as !.
ibid he? Then he hasn't forgot
ten" she said. in Kissing whisper
Il suppose you know what it is; it's
about getting Mr.. Reynolds to come
here next winter. Oh, do keep him up to
It! Ill do any thing in the world for
you-that won't get me into trouble
with mamma or Alice-if you will"
Il will. Ill remind him again in
my next letter-or when I see him.
III say: Don't forget to invite Mr..
Reynolds in the winter Will that
'Oh. yes, that will do beautifully!
But it is long time to wait" sighed
the girl.
l thought she was much too Young
to be in love, when shc was still in
short frocks and wore her hair in a
pig-tail; but l was obliged to help her,
in return for the service l wanted her
to do me.
Il have brought my letter." said I.
mysteriously. shall you be writing